Switch actuators



Dec. 6, 1966 mc so 3,289,492

SWITCH ACTUATORS Original Filed April 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l 68 1 a INVENTOR. ms GUSTAV F ER/cA'sO/v 60 A 130 /42 -50 12 BY FIG, A r TORNEY Dec. 6, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON 3,289,492

SWITCH ACTUATORS Original Filed April 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Gusrnv F ER/GKSON A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,2s9,492 SWHTCH ACTUATURS Gustav F. Erickson, lKirlrwood, Mo, assignor to National Rejectors, Inc, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri This invention relates to improvements in switch actuators. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in actuators for small electric switches.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved actuator for small electric switches.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 808,669 for Coin Separators which was filed April 24, 1959, now Patent No. 3,123,688.

The switch provided by the present invention can be equipped with a rotatable shaft, and that rotatable shaft can be equipped with an actuator arm. It is desirable to make switches by production line methods, and it is frequently necessary to use different kinds of actuator arms for different installations and uses. The present invention makes it possible to produce the switches by production line methods and yet equip them with individually and selectively different actuator arms by providing a connector for the rotatable shaft of the switches which can readily receive actuator arms of different sizes and shapes. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector for switches which can have actuator arms of different shapes and configurations readily assembled with it.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, two preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a portion of one preferred embodiment of switch that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and it is taken along a plane which is parallel to the rotatable shaft of that switch,

FIG. 2 is a partially broken, partially sectioned, view of the switch of FIG. 1 and it is taken through the rotatable shaft of that switch,

' FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, partially sectioned, partially broken-away view through the switch of FIG. 1, and it shows several positions of the flexible leaf spring,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partially sectioned, partially broken-away view through the switch of FIG. 1, and it shows further positions of the flexible leaf spring,

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the switch of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partially sectioned view of the connector provided for the switch of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a partially broken-away side elevational view of the connector of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a partially broken-away View of an actuator arm that is usable with the connector of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a partially broken-away end view of the con nector of FIGS. 6 and 7 and of the actuator arm of FIG. 8 as they are assembled together, but it shows the actuator arm rotated one hundred and eighty degrees about a vertical axis from the position it occupies in FIG. 5, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a connector that can be mounted on a lever or other mechanism.

"ice

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 20 gen erally denotes one preferred form of switch that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. That switch has a housing which consists of two prismatic half-housings; and one of those halfhousings is denoted by the numeral 22. A rabbet 24 is provided at the periphery of the half-housing 22, as shown particularly by FIG. 1. A cylindrical opening 26 extends transversely through the half-housing 22, and a second cylindrical opening 28 also extends transversely through that half-housing. The openings 26 and 28 are made large enough to accommodate bolts or screws of standard diameters and lengths. A cylindrical opening 36, which is smaller than either of the cylindrical openings 26 and 28, also extends transverse-1y through the halfhousing 22. The openings 26 and 28 are at the opposite ends of a diagonal of the half-housing 22, and the opening 30 is located below that diagonal.

The numeral 32 denotes a large recess within the halfhousing 22; and that recess is generally rectangular in configuration, and its long axis generally parallels the long axis of that half-housing. A boss 34 is formed at the interior of the recess 32, as shown particularly by FIG. 1. An opening 36 extends through that boss and through the wall of the half-housing 22 on which the boss 34 is formed. That opening is shown particularly by FIG. 1.

The half-housing 22 has a circular boss at the exterior thereof, and that boss is shown particularly by FIGS. 1 and 2. The opening 36 is large adjacent the inner end of that boss and is small adjacent the outer end of that boss. A stop 52 is provided on the exterior of the halfhousing 22, and that stop extends downwardly from the boss 50. A stop 54 also is provided on the exterior of the half-housing 22; and that stop extends to the right of the boss 50, as that boss is viewed in FIG. 2. A pieshaped recess 56 is provided in the exterior of the halfhousing 22, and that recess is intermediate the stops 52 and 54.

The other half-housing of the switch 20 is denoted by the numeral 60; and it has openings which are comparable to, and are alined with, the openings 26, 28 and 30 in the half-housing 22. Furthermore, the half-housing 60 has a peripheral flange 62 that projects outwardly from that half-housing; and that flange seats in the rabbet 24 of the half-housing 22. The engagement between the rabbet 24 and the flange 62 is close and precise, and it precisely alines and registers the two half-housings 22 and 60.

The half-housing 68 has a large recess 64 which is complementary to, and which is the mirror image of, the recess 32 in the half-housing 22. A boss 66 is provided at the bottom of the recess 64, and that boss is generally alined with the boss 34 at the bottom of the recess 32 of the half-housing 22. A shallow, cylindrical socket 68 is provided at the inner face of the boss 66, and that socket is shown particularly by FIG. 1.

The numeral 84 denotes a terminal of a metal, such as a cupreous metal, that has good conductivity. That terminal is formed with two pairs of laterally-extending projections, and one projection of one of those pairs of projections is denoted by the numeral 88. Further, that terminal is formed with a shallow bend and with a sharp bend intermediate the ends thereof. The shallow bend enable part of the terminal 84 to project from the halfhousing 22 at right angles to the bottom of that halfhousing and the sharp bend, intermediate the ends of the terminal 84, enables the upper end of that terminal to be at ninety degrees to the inclined portion of that terminal.

The projections 88 on the terminal 84 are disposed immediately adjacent the bottom faces of the half-housings 22 and 66. The projections 88 help prevent endwise shifting of the terminal 84- relative to the half-housings 22 and 60. Also, the terminal 84 has a thickness which is closely comparable to the thickness of the slot 48 in the half-housing 22 and to the thickness of the counterpart of that slot in the half-housing 60. As a result, the terminal 84 is held against wobbling or tilting when it is assembled with the two-half housings of the switch 20. A rivet-like contact 90 has the shank thereof fixed within an opening in the upper end of the terminal 84, and that contact is mounted so its contacting face projects downwardly from the lower face of the upper end of that terminal.

An opening is provided in that portion of the terminal 84 which extends below the bottoms of the half-housings 22 and 60. That opening can accommodate a lead where that lead is to be soldered to the terminal. That projecting portion of the terminal can also receive one of the standard wiring clips that are held in engagement with terminals by tensile or compressive forces.

The numeral 94 denotes a second terminal of a metal having good conductivity; and that terminal has two bends intermediate its ends. Each of those bends forms an angle of approximately forty five degrees; and one of those bends enables a portion of the terminal 94 to project downwardly from the bottoms of the two half-housings 22 and 60 at right angles while the other of those bends permits the upper end of the terminal 94 to be parallel to the upper end of the terminal 84.

The terminal 94 is provided with two pairs of laterallyextending projections, and one projection of one of those pairs of projections is denoted by the numeral 98. The projections 93 abut the bottom faces of the half-housings 22 and 60, as shown particularly by FIG. 5. Projections 98 help prevent endwise shifting of the terminal 94 relative to the half-housings 22 and 60; and that terminal is made thick enough so it fit snugly within those half housings.

The upper portion of the terminal 94 supports a rivet like contact 100 which confronts, but is spaced from, the contact 90 carried by the upper end of the terminal 84. An opening is provided in that portion of the terminal 94 which projects below the bottoms of the halfhousings 22 and 60; and that opening can accommodate a lead.

The numeral 104 denotes a third terminal of a metal having high conductivity. That terminal has two ninety degree bends intermediate the ends thereof; and both of those bends are adjacent the upper end of that terminal. As a result, the terminal 104 projects at right angles from the bottoms of the half-housings 22 and 60.

The terminal 104 has two pairs of projections and one projection of one of those pairs of projections is denoted by the numeral 108. The projections 108 are disposed adjacent the bottom faces of the half-housings 22 and 60, as shown particularly by FIG. 5. An opening is provided in the terminal 104 below the level of the projections 108, and that opening can receive a lead.

The numeral 112 generally denotes an elongated, flexible leaf spring of springy metal. That flexible leaf spring has a sharp bend adjacent the right-hand end thereof, as that spring is viewed in FIG. 3. That bend forms an acute angle, and it defines a securing portion 114 and an elongated cantilever portion. The securing portion 114 has two openings which telescope over rivet-like members on the wide portion of the terminal 104. Once those two openings have been telescoped over those rivetlike members, those members are riveted over to permanently secure the spring 112 to the terminal 104.

The cantilever portion of the flexible leaf spring 112 extends generally parallel to the long axis of the recesses 32 and 64 in the half-housings 22 and 60; and its lefthand end is disposed between the contacts 90 and 100. That left-hand end of the cantilever portion of the spring 112 carries a movable contact 116 which can selectively engage the fixed contact 90 or the fixed contact 100.

The cantilever portion of the spring 112 has a wide portion intermediate the ends thereof; and that wide portion has an opening which accommodates a shouldered sleeve 118. That shouldered sleeve is made of a yieldable plastic material, and it is made so it telescopes readily into the opening in the wide portion of the spring 112. A permanent magnet 120 of cylindrical form has a diameter that is slightly larger than the unstressed inner diameter of the shouldered sleeve 118; and when that permanent magnet is pressed into the shouldered sleeve 118, it will expand that sleeve and permanently assemble that sleeve and the magnet 120 with the spring 112.

The numeral 122 denotes a plate of magnetic material, and the numeral 124 denotes a similar plate of magnetic material. Because these plates are of magnetic material, they will serve as pole pieces for the magnet 120; and that magnet will, whenever it is adjacent one of them, bias itself toward that one plate.

The flexible leaf spring 112 is given an initial configuration that enables it, whenever the terminal 104 is solidly seated in the half-housings 22 and 60, to bias the movable contact 116 into engagement with the fixed contact 100 on the terminal 94. That contact thus constitutes the normally-closed fixed contact of the switch, and the contact constitutes the normally-open fixed contact of that switch. Whenever the movable contact 116 is adjacent the fixed contact the magnet will be closely adjacent, and may even be touching, the pole piece 122; and the magnetic lines of flux from that magnet will assist the biasing force of the spring 112 to hold the movable contact 116 in intimate engagement with the fixed contact 100.

The numeral 126 generally denotes the rotatable actuator that is provided to move the cantilever portion of the flexible leaf spring 112 upwardly, and thereby move the movable contact 116 into engagement with the normally-open fixed contact 90. That rotatable actuator has a pivot-like projection 132 which seats in the shallow, cylindrical recess 68 in the boss 66 of the half-housing 60; and it has a cylindrical portion 134 which is equipped with a metal sleeve 138, as shown particularly by FIG. 1. The cylindrical portion 134 has a recess 136 therein, as shown by FIG. 1; and that recess and the pivot-like portion 132 define an axis of rotation 128. The diameter of the metal sleeve 138 is .less than that of the inner end of the opening 36 in the boss 34 and in the boss 50; and that sleeve does not engage the interior of that opening.

The rotatable actuator 126 is provided with an eccentric portion which is of triangular cross section. That eccentric portion is spaced to one side of the axis 128 of the actuator 126, as shown particularly by FIG. 3; and that eccentric portion constitutes the principal connection between the two portions 132 and 134 of the actuator 126.

The numeral 140 generally denotes a connector which is intended to interconnect the actuator 126 with an actuator arm 154. That connector has a cylindrical projection 142 extending rearwardly from it, and that cylindrical projection is dimensioned to have a press fit with the recess 136 in the cylindrical portion 134 of the actuator 126. Such a fit has been found to be adequate to prevent accidental relative rotation between that connector and that actuator and yet to permit any desired rotative adjustment in the positions of those parts. The .projection 142 on the connector 140 telescopes within, and bears against the small diameter, outer end of the opening 36. As a result, the projection 142 acts as the right-hand bearing for the actuator 126, as that actuator is viewed in FIG. 1. The sleeve 138 insures the maintenance of the press fit between the projection 142 and the recess 136.

The connector 140 has a stop 144 which extends rearwardly from it, and that stop is disposable between the two stops 52 and 54 at the exterior of the half-housing 22. The stop 144 is in register with the recess 56, intermediate the stops 52 and 54, and that recess keeps the rear face of the stop 144 from rubbing against the exterior of the half-housing '22.

An arcuate projection 146 is provided at the front of the connector 140', and the ends of that arcuate projection are cut away to provide abutments 148 and 150. The rear faces of those abutments are spaced forwardly of the plane of the connector 149. A third abutment 152 extends forwardly from the plane of that connector, and that third abutment is disposed approximately midway between, but above the level of, the two abutments 148 and 150.

The actuator arm 154 has a V-shaped bend 156 and also has a U-shaped bend 153, as shown particularly by FIG. 8. The U-shaped bend 158 spaces a short arm 160 above, but closely adjacent to, the V-shaped bend 156. The portion of the arm 154 to the right of the V-shaped bend 156, as that arm is viewed in FIG. 8, can have any desired length or configuration. The V- shaped bend is dimensioned to extend down toward the bottom of the arcuate projection 146 and to permit the portions at the opposite sides thereof to fit behind the abutments 148 and 150 on that arcuate projection. The short arm 160 will then engage the under face of the abutment 152. The normal spacing between the short arm 161i and the V-shaped bend 156 of the actuator arm 154 is greater than the spacing between the abutment 152 and the abutments 148 and 150; and this means that the U-shaped bend 158 must be compressed as the arm 154 is assembled with the connector 1411. The restorative forces within that U-shaped bend will apply holding forces to the arm 154 and to the connector 140 that will fully prevent accidental separation of that arm from that connect-or. If desired, the abutment 152 could have a notch formed in the under surface thereof to accommodate part of the upper surface of the short arm 160; but such a notch has not been found to be necessary.

The numeral 162 denotes a split tube which can be compressed and then telescoped into the opening 36 in the half-housing 22 and in the opening in half-housing 61 which is in alinement with the opening 30. That split tube will apply frictional forces to the half-housings 22 and 60 and completely prevent accidental separation of those half-housings from each other.

The flexible leaf spring 112 normally responds to the sharp bend therein and to the magnetic attraction between the magnet 120 and the pole piece 122 to hold the movable contact 116 in intimate engagement with the fixed contact 100. At such time, the cantilever portion of the flexible leaf spring 112 will be in its lower, solid-line position in FIG. 3; and it will act upon the eccentric portion 130 of the actuator 126 to move that eccentric portion down to its solid-line position in FIG. 3.

To move the movable contact 116 up out of engagement with the fixed contact 1110 and into engagement with the fixed contact 90, the actuator 126 will be rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, as by having a coin strike and move the free end of the actuator arm 154. Such rotation will cause the eccentric portion 130 to start moving from its solid-line position in FIG. 3 to its dotted-line position in FIG. 3, and will thus cause the uppermost edge of that eccentric portion to rise upwardly. In doing so, that uppermost edge will apply an upwardly directed force to the flexible leaf spring 112 intermediate the securing portion 114 and the magnet 120. That upwardly directed force will be resisted by the magnet 121), because that magnet will tend to hold itself adjacent the pole piece 122; and therefore the uppermost edge of the eccentric portion 130 will cause the portion of the spring 112 intermediate the magnet 120 and that uppermost edge to bow upwardly, all as shown by solid lines in FIG. 4. That upward bowing will be in the desired direction of movement of the spring 112, but it will cause the portion of the spring 112 intermediate the movable contact 116 and the actuator 126 to tend to rotate in the counterclockwise direction about the magnet 120, and it will thereby urge the movable contact 116 into even tighter engagement with the fixed contact 100. Also in moving upwardly, the uppermost edge of the eccentric portion 130 will cause the magnet 120 to rotate its axis relative to the plane of the pole piece 122; and such rotation will weaken the holding force between that magnet and that pole piece. Moreover as the uppermost edge of the eccentric portion moves upwardly it will store energy in that portion of the spring 112 which is intermediate the actuator 126 and the magnet 120; and by the time the eccentric portion 131) reaches the dottedliue position of FIG. 3, the rotation of the magnet 120 will have been great enough to weaken the holding force between that magnet and the pole piece 122 to the point where the energy stored in that portion of the spring 112 will be able to, and will, overcome that holding force. Thereupon the flexible leaf spring 112 will move its cantilever portion upwardly in whip-like manner and thereby move the movable contact 116 up into engagement with the fixed contact 90.

As long as the uppermost edge of the eccentric portion 131) is in the dotted-line position of FIG. 3, it will cause the cantilever portion of the flexible leaf spring 112 to unge the movable contact 116 into intimate engagement with the fixed contact 96. At such time, the magnet 120 will help urge that movable contact into intimate engagement with that fixed contact; and consequently there will be little or no contact resistance between the cont-acts 116 and 90.

As the free end of the switch arm 154 is released, as by the coin rolling off of that free end, the restorative force within the flexible leaf spring 112 will tend to return that spring, and the movable contact 116 thereon, to their normal positions. The magnet 120 will, however, resist that tendency because of the holding force between it and its pole piece 124. The interaction between that restorative force and that holding force will cause the portion of the flexible leaf spring 112 which is intermediate the actuator 126 and the magnet 120 to bow downwardly, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 4. Such bowing is in the direction of the desired movement of the spring 112, but it will cause the portion of the spring 112 which is intermediate the movable contact 116 and the actuator 126 to tend to rotate in the clockwise direction about the magnet 120, and it. will thereby urge the movable contact 116 into even tighter engagement with the fixed contact 90. That downward bowing will also cause the magnet 120 to rotate its axis relative to the plane of the pole piece 124; and such rotation will weaken the holding force between that magnet and that pole piece. Continued downward bowing of the portion of the spring 112 which is between the actuator 126 and the magnet 120 will rotate that magnet to such an extent relative to its pole piece 124 that the holding force between that magnet and that pole piece will be unable to match the restorative force within the spring 112. Thereupon the flexible leaf spring 112 will move its cantilever portion downwardly in whip-like manner and thereby move the movable contact 116 down into engagement with the fixed contact 100.

In assembling the switch provided by the present invention, the metal sleeve 133 is telescoped over the cylindrical portion 134 of the actuator 126 and then the two of them are telescoped into the opening 36 in the half-housing 22. The projection 142 of the connector 1 46 is then pressed into the recess 136 in the cylindrical portion 134. The sleeve 118 and the magnet 1211 are assembled with the flexible leaf spring 112 and that spring is assembled with the terminal 104. Thereafter that terminal is set within the half-housing 22; and as it is so set, the cantilever portion of the spring 112 will be placed in overlying relation to the actuator 126. The terminals 84 and 94 are then :set in position within the half-housing 22, and plates 122 and 124- then have their ends seated in the half-housing 22. Thereupon the halfhousing 60 can be placed in engagement with the halfhousing 22, .and the split tube 162 can be telescoped into the opening 30 and into the corresponding opening in the half-housing 60. Once this has been done, an actuator arm of the desired configuration can be assembled with the abutments 148, 150 and 152 of the connector 140.

The arm 154 is easily assembled with the connector 140 by pressing the short arm 160 toward the V-shaped bend 156, and then setting the V-shaped bend 156 Within the area defined by the arcuate projection 14 6. Subsequent release of the pressure on the short arm 160 will enable that arm to press against the abutment 152 and thereby hold the actuator arm 154 against dislodgment from the connector 14%.

The numeral 180 generally denotes another connector which can receive an arm such as the arm 154. The connector 180 is provided with an opening 182 through it, and that opening can accommodate a suitable projection on a movable or fixed element. That projection will thereby hold the connector 1813 in assembled relation with that movable or fixed element. The connector 180 has abutments 18d and 186 formed thereon by a stamping or casting operation, and those abutments are corn- ;parable to the abutments 148 and 15th of connector 1 .0

which are also made by a stamping or casting operation. The abutment 188 is comparable to the abutment 152; and the abutments 184, 1 86 and 188 can receive and hold an arm such as the arm 154. That arm can be used for any one of a number of purposes, as for example, to support or suspend objects, to act as a feeler or gage, to act as a rebounding surface, to act as an area-defining element, or to do any one of a number of dififerent functions. The connector 130 thus constitutes a device which facilitates the ready assembly and disassembly of an arm with another element.

The upper faces of the eccentric portion 1311 of the actuator 126 are planes that substend an acute angle. Those faces abut to define a sharp surface or edge that can engage the under face of the flexible leaf spring 112; and such a sharp surface is desirable. In the first place, it will provide a minimum area of engagement between the eccentric portion 130 and the flexible leaf spring 112, and will thereby reduce the frictional resistance that occurs as that surface slides along relative to the flexible leaf spring 112 during rotation of the actuator 126; In the second place, it enables the actuator to rotate a considerable number of degrees while keeping the faces of the two planes out of engagement with the under side of the flexible leaf spring 112. The overall rotation of the actuator 126 Will be limited by the engagement of the stop 144, on the connector 140, with the stops 52 and 54 on the half-housing 22.

The sharp edge on the eccentric portion 131) is disposed between the fixed end of the flexible leaf spring and the axis of rotation of the actuator 126. This is desirable because it enables a relatively stiff portion of the flexible leaf spring 112 to engage the eccentric portion 130 and to provide the restoring torque for the actuator 126.

The sharp edge of the eccentric portion 131) and the axis of rotation of the actuator 126 define a line 131; and that line is extended in the normal and rotated positions of the actuator 126 in FIG. 3 to make it readily visible. That line inclines relative to the flexible leaf spring 112; inclining downwardly to the right and intersecting the flexible leaf spring 112 when the actuator is in the solid line position of FIG. 3. That line inclines upwardly to the right and intersects the flexible leaf spring 112 when the actuator 126 is in the dotted line position of FIG. 3. The fact that the line 131 starts below the flexible leaf spring 112 and passes upwardly through the plane of that flexible leaf spring to a point above that spring is desirable because it means that the cosine of that line will not vary a great deal as the actuator 126 rotates. Such a small variation minimizes the amount of sliding which will occur between the sharp edge of the eccentric portion and the flexible leaf spring 112 as the actuator 126 rotates; and this means that there will be a minimum of frictional resistance to the rotation of the actuator 126.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described two preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of:

(a) an actuator,

(b) an actuator arm,

(c) a connector that interconnects said actuator and said actuator arm to enable said actuator arm to move said actuator, and

(d) a plurality of abutments on said connector,

(e) said abutments being spaced apart to define a triangle,

(f) one of said abutments coacting with an adjacent portion of said connector to define a recess,

(g) a second of said abutments coacting with an adjacent portion of said connector to define a second recess,

(h) a third of said abutments coacting with an adjacent portion of said connector to define a third recess,

(i) said actuator arm having a bent end thereon which is generally U-shaped in configuration,

(j) one of the sides of said bent end of said actuator arm having a generally V-shaped bend therein,

(k) said one side of said bent end of said actuator arm normally being lodged within the first said and said second recesses defined by the first said and said second abutments and the said adjacent portions of said connector,

(l) the other side of said bent end of said actuator arm normally being lodged within said third recess defined by said third abutment and the said adjacent portion of said connector,

(in) said generally V-shaped bend in said one side of said bent end of said actuator arm normally being disposed between the first said and said second abutments on said connector,

(n) said bent end of said actuator arm having an unstressed size greater than the size it has when the said sides thereof are lodged within said recesses, whereby said bent end must be stressed to dispose the said sides thereof within said recesses, and whereby the resulting restorative forces in said bent end efiectively hold the said sides of said bent end Within said recesses and thus in assembled relation with said connector.

2. The combination of:

(a) an actuator,

(b) an actuator arm,

(c) a connector that interconnects said actuator and said actuator arm to enable said actuator arm to move said actuator, and

(d) a plurality of abutments on said connector,

(e) one of said abutments coacting with an adjacent portion of said connector to define a recess,

(f) a second of said abutments coacting with an adjacent portion of said connector to define a second recess,

(g) a third of said abutments coacting with an adjacent portion of said connector to define a third recess,

(h) said actuator arm having a bent end thereon which is generally U-shaped in configuration,

(i) one of the sides of said bent end of said actuator arm normally being lodged within the first said and said second recesses defined by the first said and said second abutments and the said adjacent portions of said connector,

(j) the other side of said bent end of said actuator normally being lodged within said third recess defined 9 by said third abutment and the said adjacent portion of said connector,

(k) said bent end of said actuator arm having an unstressed size greater than the size it has when the said sides thereof are lodged within said recesses, whereby said bent end must be stressed to dispose the said sides thereof Within said recesses, and whereby the resulting restorative forces in said bent end effectively hold the said sides of said bent end within said recesses and thus in assembled relation with said connector.

3. The combination of:

(a) an actuator,

(b) an actuator arm,

(c) a connector that interconnects said actuator and said actuator arm to enable said actuator arm to move said actuator, and

(d) a plurality of abutments on said connector,

(e) one of said abutments defining one limit of a predetermined area,

(f) a second of said abutments defining a second limit of said predetermined area,

(g) a third of said abutments defining a third limit of said predetermined area,

(h) said actuator arm having a bent end thereon,

(i) one portion of said bent end of said actuator arm bearing against the first said and said second abutments,

(j) a second portion of said bent end of said actuator arm bearing against said third abutment,

(k) said bent end of said actuator arm having an unstressed size greater than the size it has when the said portions thereof are bearing against said abutments, whereby said bent end must be stressed to dispose the said portions thereof in bearing engagement with said abutments, and whereby the resulting restorative forces in said bent end effectively hold the said portions of said bent end in engagement with said abutments and thus in assembled relation with said connector,

('1) said one portion of said actuator arm having an otfset therein that is disposed intermediate the first said and said second abutments and that resists translation of said actuator arm relative to said connector.

4. The combination of:

(a) an actuator,

(b) an actuator arm that is unitary in form,

(c) a connector that interconnects said actuator and said actuator anm to enable said actuator arm to move said actuator, and

(d) a plurality of abutments on said connector that are spaced apart and that extend outwardly from one face of said connector to define an open area,

(e) said actuator arm having a bent end thereon that has a U-shaped configuration, that is bendable and resilient, and that is disposed within said open area defined by said plurality of abutments,

(f) one portion of said bent end of said actuator arm bearing against and being confined by one of said abutments,

(g) a second portion of said bent end of said actuator arm bearing against and being confined 'by another of said abutments,

(h) said bent end of said actuator arm having an unstressed size greater than the size it has when the said portions thereof bear against said abutments, 'whereby said bent end must be stressed to dispose the said portions thereof so they bear against said abutments, and whereby the resulting restorative forces in said bent end eifectively hold the said portions of said bent end against said abutments and thus in assembled relation with said connector,

(i) said bent end of said actuator arm and said connector having interacting surfaces thereon that coact to resist translation of said actuator arm relative to said connector,

(j) said open area defined by said outwardly extending abutments facilitating sidewise movement of said :bent end of said actuator arm into engagement with said one face of said connector.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,834,939 12/1931 Dante 74519 X 1,835,982 12/1931 Hammerly 7497 X 1,950,383 3/1934 Blattner 28752.02 2,288,435 6/1942 Browne 74568 2,342,064 2/1944 Tinnerrnan 28752.02 2,460,695 2/ 1949 Hennessy 74--96 2,517,075 8/1950 Aquila.

2,589,995 3/1952 Darwin 74568 2,612,578 9/1952 Stueland 74544 X 2,939,337 6/1960 Sweger 74519 X 2,947,831 8/1960 Riddle 200-67 2,982,148 5/1961 Jackson et al. 74504 3,062,932 11/1962 Korsgren et a1 20067 3,067,629 12/1962 Zurles 74504 FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner. BROUGHTON DURHAM, 'MI'LTON KAUFMAN,

Examiners.

D. H. THIEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATIN OF: (A) AN ACTUATOR, (B) AN ACTUATOR ARM, (C) A CONNECTOR THAT INTERCONNECTS SAID ACTUATOR AND SAID ACTUATOR ARM TO ENABLE SAID ACTUATOR ARM TO MOVE SAID ACTUATOR, AND (D) A PLURALITY OF ABUTMENTS ON SAID CONNECTOR, (E) SAID ABUTMENTS BEING SPACED APART TO DEFINE A TRI ANGLE, (F) ONE OF SAID ABUTMENTS COACTING WITH AN ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR TO DEFINE A RECESS, (G) A SECOND OF SAID ABUTMENTS COACTING WITH A ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR TO DEFINE A SECOND RECESS, (H) A THIRD OF SAID ABUTMENTS COACTING WITH AN ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR TO DEFINE A THIRD RECESS, (I) SAID ACTUATOR ARM HAVING A BENT END THEREON WHICH IS GENERALLY U-SHAPED IN CONFIGURATION, (J) ONE OF THE SIDES OF SAID BENT END OF SAID ACTUATOR ARM HAVING A GENERALLY V-SHAPED BEND THEREIN, (K) SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID BENT END OF SAID ACTUATOR ARM NORMALLY BEING LODGED WITHIN THE FIRST SAID AND SAID SECOND RECESSES DEFINED BY THE FIRST SAID AND SAID SECOND ABUTMENTS AND THE SAID ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID CONNECTOR, (1) THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BENT END OF SAID ACTUATOR ARM NORMALLY BEING LODGED WITHIN SAID THIRD RECESS DEFINED BY SAID THIRD ABUTMENT AND THE SAID ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR, (M) SAID GENERALLY V-SHAPED BEND IN SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID BENT END OF SAID ACTUATOR AREM NORMALLY BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE FIRST SAID AND SAID SECOND ABUTMENTS ON SAID CONNECTOR, (N) SAID BENT END OF SAIOD ACTUATOR ARM HAVING AN UNSTRESSED SIZE GREATER THAN THE SIZE IT HAS WHEN THE SAID SIDES THEREOF ARE LODGED WITHIN SAID RECESSES, WHEREBY SAID BENT END MUST BE STRESSED TO DISPOSE THE SAID SIDES THEREOF WITHIN SAID RECESSES, AND WHEREBY THE RESULTING RESTORATIVE FORCES IN SAID BENT END EFFECTIVELY HOLD THE SAID SIDES OF SAID BENT END WITHIN SAIE RECESSES AND THUS IN ASSEMBLED RELATION WITH SAID CONNECTOR. 